Lebanon categorically denied Sunday reports that it had lifted its objections to a UN confirmation that Israel had completely withdrawn from its territory.

"This information is totally inaccurate," Lebanese president Emile Lahoud's office said in a statement sent to AFP.

Members of the United Nations Security Council said late Saturday Beirut had lifted its objections to Friday's announcement by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan confirming the end of Israel's 22-year occupation of southern Lebanon.

Lebanon's refusal to accept the announcement prevented the council endorsing it in a formal statement Saturday, diplomats said.

But after a long telephone conference call including US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and Lahoud, Lebanon dropped its objections late Saturday, diplomats said.

The council president, French Ambassador Jean-David Levitte, scheduled a council meeting for 10:00 a.m. Sunday (1400 GMT) and a text was expected to be adopted "within five minutes," they added - BEIRUT (AFP)